MANILA, Philippines -- Following his alleged involvement in the 2004 ballot switching during the canvassing at the House of Representatives, former Philippine National Police chief Hermogenes Ebdane said he will "answer the allegation in the proper forum".
In text message, the former PNP chief and now Zambales governor said he cannot quarrel with Senior Supt. Rafeal Santiago, who tagged him in the controversy, saying “Let the issue run its course.”
"I will answer the allegation in the proper forum. I cannot quarrel with him (Santiago) in the media,” Ebdane cited.
He issued the statement after justice secretary Leila de Lima said that Santiago has implicated him and former First Gentlemen Mike Arroyo, among others, when a team of police special forces swooped Batasan Complex in 2004 to switch the ballots to assure the victory of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.